SB 710 — Teacher preparation; establishment of TeachForwardOK; allowing Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to select more than one applicant under certain circumstances. Emergency.

ENGROSSEDAn Act ENROLLED SENATE BILL NO.

Seifried of the Senate and Caldwell (Chad) of the House 6 An Act relating to teacher preparation;

BESUBJECT: IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

Teacher preparation BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

2025 (70 O.S.

Within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this act August 29, 2025, the Commission shall issue a request for proposals to select technical assistance providers to evaluate teacher ENGR.education programs in institutions of higher education within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education that are accredited by the Commission pursuant to Section 6-186 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title.

S.

B.

NO.

710 Page 1 education programs in institutions of higher education within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education that are accredited by the Commission pursuant to Section 6-186 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes this title.

ENGR.D.

S.

B.

NO.

710 Page 2 D.

(1)ENR. a pathway for high school students to become paraprofessionals, (2) a pathway for paraprofessionals to become teachers, and (3) a pathway for individuals with bachelor’s degrees to become teachers, b.

developing a curriculum that includes intensive on- the-job training for teacher candidates, c.

identifying a mastery-based evaluation system to determine when eligible teacher candidates have mastered the skills and competencies necessary for graduation from an apprenticeship program and ENGR.

710 Page 32 outlining(1) benchmarksa thatpathway teacherfor candidateshigh mustschool meetstudents asto theybecome progressparaprofessionals, through(2) on-the-joba training,pathway d.for paraprofessionals to become teachers, and (3) a pathway for individuals with bachelor’s degrees to become teachers, b.

developing a curriculum that includes intensive on- the-job training for teacher candidates, c.

identifying a mastery-based evaluation system to determine when eligible teacher candidates have mastered the skills and competencies necessary for graduation from an apprenticeship program and outlining benchmarks that teacher candidates must meet as they progress through on-the-job training, d.

F.ENR.

By December 31, 2027, the Commission shall electronically submit a report of TeachForwardOK’s findings and recommendations to ENGR.

710 Page 43 theF. Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

By December 31, 2027, the Commission shall electronically submit a report of TeachForwardOK’s findings and recommendations to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

PassedENR. the Senate the 16th day of March, 2026.

PresidingS. Officer of the Senate Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2026.

PresidingB. Officer of the House of Representatives ENGR.

NO.

710 Page 4 Passed the Senate the 16th day of March, 2026.

Presiding Officer of the Senate Passed the House of Representatives the 6th day of May, 2026.

Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________ day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.

By:

_________________________________ Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _________ day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.

_________________________________ Governor of the State of Oklahoma OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________ day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.

By:

_________________________________ ENR.